Submitted by Bonnie, Newton, MA

My son seems so young for his age. How will I know when he's ready for preschool?

Answered by Jacque Grillo , Director, Lone Mountain Children's Center

The transition from toddler to young childhood is evidenced in many ways. There are the physiological changes: the child literally stretches out, and the proportion of the upper and lower body gives him the appearance of adult maturity -- all the parts seem to be for the first time working in harmony. By this time most children have mastered self toileting. The normally developing child has also accessed a new level of language mastery, and is able to fairly reliably not just make his needs known, but actually carry on a fairly sophisticated conversation. He is now ready to reach out to his peers with a new maturity, and will begin to establish truly interactive friendships. He is less self-focussed and begins to develop genuine curiosity and interest in the "other." He is at an early point of moving beyond his own egocentric needs and interests, and is consequently now ready to share and cooperate in a group setting.